Automatic stop apparatus for a recorder/reproducer



March 25, 1969 w. EIBENSTEINER AUTOMATIC STOP APPARATUS FOR A RECORDERREPRODUCER Filed Dec. 20. I 1965 FIG 1 INVENTOR. WALTER EIBENSTEINERUnited States Patent 3,434,725 AUTOMATIC STOP APPARATUS FOR ARECORDER/REPRODUCER Walter Eibensteiner, Vienna, Austria, assignor toNorth American Philips Company Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Dec. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 514,818 Claims priority,application Austria, Jan. 20, 1965, A 422/65 Int. Cl. Gllb /00 US. Cl.274-4 9 Claims This invention relates to means for automatically turningoil a magnetic tape recorder/reproducer or at least termination of oneof the operating conditions of such apparatus.

Operating conditions are to be understood to mean herein not only thevarious types of movement of a record carrier, for example, the forwardand backward movement at a speed adjusted for scanning or thefastforward and backward movement, but also the conditions playback or recorMagnetic recorder/reproducers of the type to which the inventionrelates, and having automatic shut off means, are known, for example,United States Patent 2,631,855. An embodiment of this invention is toprovide an improved system for automatically turning off arecorder/reproducer which is economical to manufacture and reliable inoperation.

In order that the invention may readily be carried into effect, it willnow be described in detail by way of example, with reference to theembodiments shown in the accompanying drawing. In this drawing, FIGURE 1diagrammatically shows a device according to the invention and FIGURE 2shows a switch which may be used in a device according to the invention.

FIGURE 1 shows the device according to the invention in a recordingand/or play-back apparatus having push buttons or keys 2, 3, 4 for thenormal forward and fast forward and fast backward movementsrespectively. For simplicity, components which strictly are notessential to understand this inventionfor example, operating leverscooperating with the keys for switching on the various types ofmovement, the driving mechanism for the record carrier, and so 0n-arenot shown in the drawing or are shown diagrammatically only.

The keys 2, 3 and 4 are rotatably mounted on the shaft 1 and areprovided with notches 5 for snapping into engagement with the lockingbar 7 which locks a depressed key in its depressed position. Bar 7 isrotatably mounted on the pivots 6. The key 2 is shown in its depressedposition. The key 8 is constructed as a release key. When the saidrelease key, or any of the other keys, is depressed, the locking bar 7is pivoted out of its operating position by the edge 9, so that any keyin engagement with the bar is released and returned to its restposition. The release key 8 does not comprise a notch for snapping intoengagement with the locking bar so that said key, after having beendepressed, returns to its initial position. The locking bar 7 ismaintained in its operating position by a spring 10.

Normal forward movement of the record carrier, in this case the tape 11,is provided by means of the key 2. For this purpose, a driving shaft orcapstan 12 is provided which is driven by a motor M in known manner (notshown) and cooperates with a pressure roller 13. The pressure roller 13is mounted on a lever 15 which is rotatable on the pivot 14. Said lever15 is coupled by means of the spring 16 to the lever 17 which likewiseis rotatable on the pivot 14 and cooperates with the key 2. When the key2 is depressed, the levers 15 and 17 are rotated in the manner shown byarrows a and b by arrows 3,434,725 Patented Mar. 25, 1969 a and b in thedrawing while the pressure roller 13 is tion, the lever 17 is rotatedunder the action of the resetas a pressure compensating spring. When thekey 2 is released, that is to say when it is returned to its restposiforced against the driving shaft 12. The spring 16 serves tingspring 18 and, by means of the abutment 19 provided on it, takes alongthe lever 15 which carries the pressure roller 13 so that same is movedout of engagement with the driving shaft 12.

In the case of fast travel (forward and reverse) which is controlled bymeans of the keys 3 and 4, the driving of the tape may tape reelturntables (not shown).

Magnetic heads for recording and/or playing-back and erasing informationrespectively are arranged along the path of the tape, as is known, inthe drawing only one head 20 is shown. In addition, a pair of contacts21 which is included in the current circuit of an electromagnet 22,serving for releasing the locking device 7 for the keys, is arrangedalong the path of the tape. For this purpose the armature 23 of themagnet is connected through a rod 24 to the locking bar 7 so that, assoon as the armature of the electromagnet is attracted, the locking baris rotated so that the depressed keys are released. The electromagnet 22is energized as soon as the two components of the pair of. contacts 21are conductively connected together. As is known, this connection takesplace by marking strips (switching foils) 25 arranged on the tape 11.Such marking strips are provided, for example, at some distance beforethe end of the tape, so that the tape drive is stopped as soon as thetotal quantity of tape is uncoiled from the supply reel.

A switch 27 whose two contacts are opened when the mains switch isclosed is mechanically coupled to the mains switch 26 and arranged inparallel with the said pair of contacts 21 in the supply line of theelectromagnet 22. When the apparatus is switched olf by means of themains switch 26, the switch 27, which is coupled mechanically to themains switch, is actuated so that the current circuit of theelectromagnet 22 is closed. As a result the charge capacitor 28,included in the mains circuit is discharged through the electromagnet 22so that the armature 23 is attracted and the depressed key or keys is orare released by a rotation of the locking bar 7. By releasing the keysthe driving mechanism for the tape is set in its rest position, that isto say the pressure roller 13 is moved out of engagement with thedriving shaft 12 and any intermediate wheels are reset in their restposition respectively. Consequently release of the keys 2, 3, 4 by meansof the manual released button 8 is no longer absolutely necessary sothat damaging the apparatus in that fiat sides are formed on the drivingelements, is no longer possible.

FIGURE 2 shows another device for energizing the electromagnet 22 whenthe mains switch 26 is switched oif. In this device the mains switch 26and the switch 27 coupled mechanically to the mains switch and includedin the current circuit of the electromagnet are constructed so that theswitch 27 is closed at an instant earlier than that at which the mainsswitch 26 is opened. In this case the switch 26 is provided with contactmembers 29 which are longer than the stroke which the contact arm of theswitch 27 has to perform to close the said switch 27. The contactmembers 29, however, are shorter than the maximum stroke of the saidarm.

Numerous structural variations of the device according to the inventionare possible. For example, when using a number of keys each having aseparate locking device it is possible that the electromagnet has areleasing action on each of the locking devices through a. suitablyconstructed system of levers. In addition it is possible that theelectromagnet does not act directly on the keys, but

be effected, for example, directly through on the component of theapparatus moved by the keys or on the locking devices of the saidcomponents. Alternatively, the device may be constructed so that thecomponents of the apparatus in question, for example, the pressureroller and the intermediate wheels, are not reset entirely in their restcondition, but that only their working contact is removed. The deviceaccording to the invention may also be used in arrangements having keyswhich are constructed in a different way than described hereinbefore.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for switching off at least one of the operating conditionsof a recording and/ or reproducing device, comprising: at least one keyfor actuating an operating condition of the device, said key actuatingselected components of the device, locking means for locking said key,an electromagnet adapted to release said locking means, a line switchadapted to connect an external energization source to said apparatus, anauxiliary energization source, and an auxiliary switch mechanicallycoupled to said line switch, said auxiliary switch being included in theenergizing circuit of the electromagnet, said auxiliary switch acting toclose said energizing circuit and connect said auxiliary energizationsource to said electromagnet when said line switch disconnects saidexternal energization source, whereby said electromagnet is energizedand said locking means is released when said external energizationsource is disconnected.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary energizationsource comprises a charge capacitor.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary energizationsource comprises a charge capacitor which is charged by said externalsource when said line switch connects said external source to saidapparatus.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said auxiliary switch closessaid energizing circuit before said line switch disconnects saidexternal energization source,

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of keys areprovided, said locking means being at least partially common to saidkeys, said electromagnet having an armature which co-acts mechanicallywith said locking means.

6. Apparatus for switching off at least one of the operating conditionsof a device for recording and/ or rep-roducing signals on a carrier,comprising: at least one key for actuating an operating condition of thedevice in which the carrier moves at a predetermined speed, said keyactuating selected components of the device, locking means for lockingsaid key, an electromagnet adapted to release said locking means, a lineswitch adapted to connect an external energization source to saidapparatus, an auxiliary energization source, and an auxiliary switchmechanically coupled to said line switch, said auxiliary switch beingincluded in the energizing circuit of the electromagnet, said auxiliaryswitch acting to close said energizing circuit and connect saidauxiliary energization source to said electromagnet when said lineswitch disconnects said external energization source, a pair of contactsarranged in said energizing circuit, said contacts being adapted to beshunted by conductive markings on said carrier, said auxiliary switchbeing connected in parallel with said contacts, whereby saidelectromagnet is energized when said external energization source isdisconnected or when said pair of contacts are engaged by saidconductive markings.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said auxiliary energizationsource comprises a charge capacitor.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said auxiliary energizationsource comprises a charge capacitor which is charged by said externalsource when said line switch connects said external source to saidapparatus.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said auxiliary switch closessaid energizing circuit before said line switch disconnects saidexternal energization source,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,305,240 2/1967 Missriegler179-1002 3,355,557 11/1967 Laa et al. 179-100.2

BERNARD KONICK, Primary Examiner.

I. RUSSELL GOUDEAU, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE. OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,434,725

March 25,

Walter Eibensteiner It is certified that error appears in the aboveidentified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected asshown below:

Column 2, line 2, beginning with "tion, the" cancel all to and incluc'"spring 16 serves" in line 5, same column 2, and insert forced againstthe driving shaft 12. The spring 16 serves as a pressure compensatingspr When the key 2 is released, that is to say when it is returned toits posi the lever 17 is rotated under the action of the reset Signedand sealed this 14th day of April 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER,

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Fate:

Attesting Officer

1. APPARATUS FOR SWITCHING OFF AT LEAST ONE OF THE OPERATING CONDITIONSOF A RECORDING AND/OR REPRODUCING DEVICE, COMPRISING: AT LEAST ONE KEYFOR ACTUATING AN OPERATING CONDITION OF THE DEVICE, SAID KEY ACTUATINGSELECTED COMPONENTS OF THE DEVICE, LOCKING MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID KEY,AND ELECTROMAGNET ADAPTED TO RELEASE SAID LOCKING MEANS, A LINE SWITCHADAPTED TO CONNECT AN EXTERNAL ENERGIZATION SOURCE TO SAID APPARATUS, ANAUXILLIARY ENERGIZATION SOURCE, AND AN AUXILIARY SWITCH MECHANICALLYCOUPLED TO SAID LINE SWITCH, SAID AUXILIARY SWITCH BEING INCLUDED IN THEENERGIZING CIRCUIT OF THE ELECTROMAGNET, SAID AUXILIARY SWITCH ACTING TOCLOSE SAID ENERGIZING CIRCUIT AND CONNECT SAID AUXILIARY ENERGIZATIONSOURCE TO SAID ELECTROMAGNET WHEN SAID LINE SWITCH DISCONNECTS SAIDEXTERNAL ENERGIZATION SOURCE, WHEREBY SAID ELECTROMAGNET IS ENERGIZEDAND SAID LOCKING MEANS IS RELEASED WHEN SAID EXTERNAL ENERGIZATIONSOURCE IS DISCONNECTED.